Community Engagement Officer

Richmond and Wandsworth Council; Twickenham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Community Engagement Officer to create positive change in local communities. This exciting role involves coordinating community conversations, engaging with underrepresented groups, and collaborating with various stakeholders. As part of a dynamic team, you will deliver impactful outreach programs, fostering connections between the council and residents. If you are enthusiastic about community development and have strong communication and analytical skills, this opportunity offers a chance to make a real difference in people's lives. Join us in promoting inclusivity and community spirit!

Benefits

40 Days Annual Leave

Flexible Working

Generous Pension Plan

Qualifications

• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement and event coordination are essential.
• Ability to translate complex issues into community-focused messages.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate community engagement activities and public events.
• Develop and deliver engagement plans to reach diverse audiences.

Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Event Coordination

Analytical Skills

Report Writing

Communication Skills

Education

Relevant Degree or Equivalent Experience

Job description

Job Title: Community Engagement Officer (Richmond)

Salary: £36,432 - £44,147 per annum

Permanent: Full Time

Location: Richmond Civic Centre, Twickenham, London

Objective of Role

Are you enthusiastic and do you believe in the power of communities to effect change? Would you like to create positive change in the local communities of Richmond and Wandsworth borough through the role of working for local government and wider partners to listen and respond to residents? If so, this exciting and demanding role may be for you. This role sits within the corporate centre of Richmond Council, playing a key role to deliver the community engagement programme that seeks to inform, involve and engage residents.

The role will deliver on the Council's Community Conversation and Outreach Programme, which includes the co-ordination of up to nine in-person Community Conversation events hosted by Ward Members, providing an opportunity for local residents to meet with them to discuss local issues.

About the Role

This role will also focus on engaging residents who are less heard or are covered by the nine protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act, 2010, and additionally those who are financially insecure. This work will be focused with the priorities being agreed with colleagues in Adults Social Services, Public Health and Achieving for Children.

You would be joining an established team which has led some high-profile engagement events and outreach activities. You will build on these foundations and our highly regarded track record and, as part of a growing and dynamic team, we will continue to make an impact in the local community and work together to hear from underrepresented groups. You will work alongside officers from across the council and build on existing partnerships, bringing an innovative approach to draw interest into your projects.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

This role co-ordinates engagement and partnership activity with Richmond's communities. You will need to be able to articulate key messages from the Council's engagement strategies, reaching out to wide audiences and encouraging involvement in reaching residents across the borough. This will involve the co-ordination of public events (both in person and online), seminars, and sharing communications, as well as evaluating the same.

You will be strong at developing and delivering engagement plans on multiple priorities, with skills in stakeholder engagement, event co-ordination, and administration being key to this role. You will be confident making arrangements in person, by phone, and online. You will present to groups and attend events, sometimes in the evening or at weekends. You will also work with elected councillors.

This role is in the Community and Partnerships Department working closely with the Voluntary Sector and Partnership teams. The Community and Partnerships Department works across Richmond and Wandsworth borough to engage with residents, voluntary groups, and key stakeholders, building relationships and developing strategies to tackle key issues.

You will need to be flexible in how you work and regularly re-prioritise what you work on. You need to have good analytical skills and be a strong report writer. You will also be able to translate complex issues into short, community-focused messages which you can communicate both in writing and by presenting to groups.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Monday 12th May 2025

Shortlisting Date: week commencing 19th May 2025

Interview Date: weeks commencing 26th May and 2nd June 2025

Useful Information

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such, appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This campaign is anonymised.

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working, and a generous pension plan.